Making a strong statement of his power-packed finishing skills, champion jockey A. Sandesh spurred six-year old Evaldo to overwhelm favourite Jamari in the Idar Gold Trophy (Gr.3) on Saturday. Pesi Shroff-trained filly Jamari went into the three-horse event as the firm favourite to win against the Prasanna Kumar-saddled duo, Evaldo and Ruling Dynasty. Jamari, however, came across one better for the second successive time at Pune. Evaldo was slow to jump out from the gates but it hardly mattered as the slow pace set by his stable-mate Ruling Dynasty allowed him to settle on the heels of Jamari. There was no change in the order of running till the race came to a boil just before the final turn where, timing his challenge to perfection, Sandesh brought Evaldo alongside Jamari, who too was pressed into action by G. Vivek. Jamari was the first to collar Ruling Dynasty at the two-furlong post with Vivek frantically trying to sustain the lead. However, Evaldo (Gusto – Farrfesheena) was breathing fire down his neck after Sandesh pulled out all stops. Jamari fought a grim battle but capitulated a few strides before the wire as Sandesh’s forceful riding tilted the scales in favour of Evaldo during his battle with Jamari, who went down by half-length. Evaldo was bred at the Bishan Stud and is co-owned by Mr K. Manoj Kumar and Mrs Gaja Manoj.
 
The Macchupicchu Trophy, a Class I event run over a mile, was claimed by Madam Rich giving trainer B. Prithviraj his first winner this season. Despite a solitary win under her belt, the four-year old Madam Rich was racing in the highest class and carried the public purse on her back. Alpine Star assumed his customary front-running role when the starter’s flag came down with S. Saqlain settling Madam Rich behind Alpine Star and Golden Kingdom before giving the bay filly her head. Madam Rich (Phoenix Tiger – Arthur’s Girl) took some time warming up to her task but brushed aside the threat posed by Golden Kingdom once she got into her stride. Saqlain drove the filly for her second career success with Golden Kingdom and Chopin finishing runner-up and third respectively. Alpine Star ran fourth.
 
A close finish was witnessed in the Southern Command Trophy with four horses making a beeline for the winning post. It was favourite Inquilab whose late burst put paid to the hopes of Psychic Star in the shadow of the winning post. Chelsea was given a free rein by R. Ajinkya as the filly shot into the lead and had Psychic Star and Zendaya in pursuit. Sandesh astride Zendaya kept C. Umesh-piloted Psychic Star searching for room as he swiftly joined Chelsea, who brought the field into the straight. Forced to switch lanes, Psychic Star appeared to be in a retaliatory mood when she came with a re-run to swoop down on Zendaya, who had finally quelled Chelsea’s resistance. However, just when Umesh was punching for home, favourite Inquilab arrived on the scene. Imtiaz Sait-schooled Inquilab (Planetaire – Sapphire Rose) was biding his time behind the front-runners till Akshay Kumar showed him the daylight when turning for home. The chestnut colt stepped up the pace and came flying towards the end to snub Psychic Star in the dying moments of the seven furlong event. Inquilab won by sparing a short neck to Psychic Star. Zendaya finished a length and quarter behind the runner-up and with Substantial ending a neck away.
 
Another chestnut colt, Shambala, unleashed a similar blistering run to romp home in the first division of the Col. Kaikushroo Maneckji Bharucha Memorial Trophy. Last-outing winner Wanderlust led all the way from the barriers while Shambala, after coming out of the wide draw, was held up for room due to the crowding field soon after the start and was settled back. As the field spread out at the final bend, Antony brought Shambala (Planetaire – Ice Cube Baby) into the reckoning and the colt moved with giant strides to chase down Wanderlust in the last furlong. Nazzak Chenoy-groomed Shambala had something in reserve when crossing the winning line well clear of Wanderlust, Goddes Of Dawn and Kinzhal. Favourite Fiorentini was up with the leaders till the heads turned for home and curiously dropped back gradually to beat just one home.
 
The lower division of the Col. Kaikushroo Maneckji Bharucha Memorial Trophy was claimed by Aman Hussain’s ward Mazal, who proved far too superior for her opponents. Mazal was swiftly off from the innermost draw and had Untitled nagging her till approaching the final lap of the six-furlong sprint. As they turned for home, Akshay-ridden Mazal (Roderic O’Connor – Markabah) shrugged off Untitled to steal a march over her rivals. Mazal then kicked on gamely under the whip to record her maiden success. As the anticipated resistance from either Quicker, Dulari or Madras Cheque failed to materialise, the three longshots Lion King, Arbitrage and Daulat Mai took the minor places in that order behind the winner.
 
Brave Beauty from Hosidar Daji’s yard continued her unfancied winning sequence when she humbled her younger adversaries, Julius and Break Point. The least fancied runner in the field of six competitors for the Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Memorial Trophy, K. Nazil-steered Brave Beauty (Territories – Bravia) raced behind Richochet all the way from the gates. The chestnut mare collared Ricochet a little over a furlong before the winning line and managed to gain a slender lead over Break Point and Julius. Earlier, Break Point failed to find an opening between Ricochet and Brave Beauty and lost a few strides before being steadied by R. Ajinkya. Bhawani Singh-ridden Julius also tried to make his presence felt at this juncture but Brave Beauty stayed on course to carve a narrow victory. The three horses were separated by a neck each with Julius finishing second ahead of Break Point. Waikiki ran thereabouts to be fourth.
 
Another fine display in the saddle by Sandesh was instrumental in Faisal Abbas-trained Red Dust tasting her maiden success at the age of six in the concluding event. Racing well up in the initial stages, Sandesh pushed Red Dust (Roderic O’ Connor – Only For Gold) through a narrow gap between Marmaris and Spiritual Rock to gain the upper hand and drove her out to record a comfortable win. Tyrone Black came with a late effort to finish second whilst Precioso and Spiritual Rock finished third and fourth respectively.